Metal-organic framework (MOF) compounds consisting of terephthalic acid and cations (Cr³⁺, In³⁺, Al³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) were prepared by the hydro- and solvo-thermal methods and characterized by XRD, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherm, TG-DTA and FE-SEM. The prepared MOFs were crystalline and phase-pure. MOFs were used as column packings for chromatographic separation of alkylbenzenes. MOFs recognized differences in molecular sizes in addition to boiling points of alkylbenzenes. Activation energy for diffusion in the MOF micropores ranged from 25 to 60 kJ mol⁻¹. Temperature-programmed XRD measurement in air revealed that no expansion or contraction of MOF frameworks occurred up to 230 °C.

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High-rate production of methane from acetate using a fixed-bed reactor filled with marine sediment containing halotolerant aceticlastic methanogens and 3 % NaCl was investigated. In continuous culture, the methane production rate increased with increasing dilution rate. The maximum methane production rate of 750 mM d⁻¹ was observed at a dilution rate of 16.2 d⁻¹, which is impossible without immobilization of the cells in the sediment. Using scanning electron microscopy, we observed Methanosaeta-like filamentous microorganisms and Methanosarcina-like coccoid microorganisms in granule-like structures. The results demonstrated that marine sediment is not only a promising microbial resource of halophilic aceticlastic methanogens, but also a supporting material to fix aceticlastic methanogens in a fixed-bed reactor.

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We investigated the effects of the Ni : Cu ratio and metal loading of a CeO₂-supported bimetallic Ni–Cu catalyst on its reduction behavior and catalytic performance during steam reforming of ethanol for H₂ production. Compared with monometallic Ni and Cu catalysts, both the NiO and CuO phases in the bimetallic catalysts were reduced at lower temperatures to form fine NiCu alloy crystallites. At a reaction temperature of 673 K, Ni/CeO₂ exhibited a higher H₂ yield than Cu/CeO₂ but also produced a large quantity of CH₄ and carbon deposits. The undesired byproducts were substantially inhibited by replacing a portion of the Ni with Cu. The highest H₂ yield and an excellent carbon inhibition were achieved when the content of each metal was 5 wt%. Notably, a physical mixture of Ni/CeO₂ and Cu/CeO₂, each with the same metal contents, exhibited a lower H₂ yield and heavy carbon deposition. This indicates that the higher reducibility and alloying in the bimetallic catalyst are key factors for synergistic improvements of the catalytic properties.

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Solid-base catalysts consisting of CaO covered with 5-20 mol% TiO₂ (TiO₂/CaO) were prepared by deposition of titanium tetraisopropoxide (Ti(OCH(CH₃)₂)₄) on a Ca(OH)₂ surface in an ethyl acetate solution, followed by thermal decomposition in air at 773-1073 K for 3 h. The catalyst heated at 773-973 K showed higher activity for the base catalyzed retro-aldol reaction to convert diacetone alcohol (4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone) to acetone at 299 K. 10 mol% TiO₂/CaO heat-treated at 773 K was the most active catalyst for the retro-aldol reaction among the metal oxide-covered CaO catalysts. The catalyst treated at 1073 K was inactive for the same reaction, as was uncovered CaO. The catalytic activity of TiO₂/CaO poisoned by water was recovered by washing with acetone, confirming that TiO₂-covered CaO had sufficient stability against H₂O. No leaching of Ca²⁺ into the polar solvent diacetone alcohol was observed in any covered catalyst.

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Catalytic activity of Co₃O₄ for oxidative decomposition of NH₄⁺ with O₃ in water was greatly enhanced with each reuse of the catalyst under the reaction conditions while maintaining its high selectivity towards gaseous compounds. On the other hand, other metal oxide catalysts showed no or only a little enhancement of the activity. Formation of −NH_x groups on the surface of Co₃O₄ during the reaction caused the enhancement of the catalytic activity.

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